Europe not to fully convert to membrane-cell method for its chlor-alkali capacity by 2020

(ICIS) -- Europe is not expected to fully convert to membrane-cell method for its chlor-alkali capacity by 2020 given the high costs involved in the process, an executive at French-based producer Arkema said on Friday. Clarifying comments made in a speech at the 15th world chlor-alkali conference in Singapore, Pascal Maureta, business manager for caustic soda, said on the sidelines of the conference that ⌠we don't have a crystal ball. These predictions are not firm and only made based on today's data, and for a worst-case possible scenario.


European chlor-alkali producers said that the costly conversion to membrane-cell technology came could not have come at a worse time. European regulations require all plants to switch to the more energy efficient membrane-cell method of production by 2020.


Margins for downstream polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which account for the majority of European chlorine use, have remained in negative territory since 2008, they said.


Demand for suspension PVC (SPVC) in 2008 slumped by 25% from record 2007 levels, in line with the global economic downturn. Soaring feedstock prices also squeezed margins, they said.


MRC

Borealis led the Nordic Film and Extrusion Conference

(Borealis) -- Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions that create value for society, led the Nordic Film and Extrusion Conference 2011 held from 19-20 May in Gothenburg, Sweden.


This special conference used the theme "Creating New Horizons for the film and extrusion coating industry" and included keynote presentations by leading Borealis personnel as well as a visit to the Borealis Stenungsund site, where the company recently completed an investment of over EUR 400 million in a new 350 KTa high pressure low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant, enhancing its capability to provide advanced materials for the Nordic LDPE film market.


Highlights of the presentations included an introduction to BorShape, a new generation of film materials with unparalleled performance, and BorLite linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE).


BorShape offers the polyolefins (PO) film market new opportunities for developing innovative packaging films with less material, greater efficiency and improved environmental and lifecycle performance.


BorLite sets new standards in the performance of Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) films.


MRC

Russian companies to increase EPS

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In May, import of EPS to Russia made 8.5 KT, according to MRC report DataScope. Since the year start, Russian companies have been increasing EPS imports. Over the five months, overall import exceeded 31.5 KT which was 47% more than a year ago.
Currency fluctuations as well as a high price for the European material changed the structure of supplies. The main share of supplies in 2011 fell at Asian material. In May, a share of supplies from Asia made 89% compared to 71% in May 2010.


It is expected that in the coming months tendency of increased EPS supplies to Russia will remain.


MRC

Egypt and India plan USD 160 mln PET plant in Ain Sokhna

(Daily News Egypt) -- A joint Indian-Egyptian venture will see the construction of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant in Ain Sokhna at a cost of USD160 million, officials said. The factory's production capacity will reach 1,200 metric tons per day producing about 420 KT of PET plastic chips per year. These plastic products will include bottles, food containers, bottled water, bottled drinks, shampoos and cosmetics.


The Egyptian-Indian Polyester Company (SAE), a joint venture with Dhunseri Petrochem and Tea LTD, will own 70 percent of the shares, while the Egyptian Holding Company for Chemicals, will own 23 percent, and Egyptian-owned petroleum and chemicals company, Enppi, will own 7 percent of shares.


Representatives of the Indian business community were quick to lay the foundation of the planned plant, which will be located in the private free zone area of Ain Sokhna, just northwest of Egypt's Suez Gulf.


MRC

Solvay to build large specialty polymers production plant in China

(Solvay) -- Solvay announced today it has launched a project to build a specialty polymers production plant for SOLEF Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), TECNOFLON Fluoroelastomers (FKM) and their essential monomer VF2 in China to satisfy the growing demand for these high value-added specialty polymers in Asia.


The plant will be built at Solvay's industrial site in Changshu in the province of Jiangsu and is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of 2014. It requires the investment of EUR 120 million and will significantly boost Solvay's global production capacity for these specialty polymers.


The TECNOFLON FKM product family is used for demanding sealing applications in aggressive chemical and high heat environments where high purity and long service life are essential such as those found in the automotive, aerospace, oil & gas and energy markets.


SOLEF PVDF can withstand heat and pressure, aggressive chemicals, mechanical stress and abrasive particles in varied applications and is widely used in Lithium-ion batteries, the chemical industry, membranes for water purification and oil & gas extraction.


The new plant in Changshu will be built next to the compounding plant under construction for Amodel polyphthalamide (PPA), Ixef polyarylamide (PARA) and Kalix (modified PARA) which is scheduled to become operational in the last quarter of 2012.


MRC